Sports
Patriots Opening Night notebook: DC Terrell Williams happy to be back
Feb 2, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; The New England Patriots during Opening Night for Super Bowl LX at San Jose Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images SAN JOSE, Calif. — Terrell Williams is back with the New England Patriots in time for the Super Bowl.
The defensive coordinator missed most of the season after being diagnosed with prostate cancer in September. He took a leave of absence after being on the sideline for New England’s Week 1 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Williams attended meetings at the Patriots’ facility during his recovery period, but he didn’t travel with the team this season. Inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr filled in as New England’s defensive play-caller.
Williams, 51, was declared cancer-free during the playoffs.
“Honestly, my thoughts are about the game and not really about me or the Super Bowl or anything,” he said. “This could be a preseason game and I’d be happy to be here with these guys after kind of what I’ve been through, what we’ve been through.”
The Patriots have allowed an average of 8.6 points per game in their three playoff contests. They forced eight turnovers in those wins over the Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and Denver Broncos.
–One of the subplots to the Sunday game will be how the Patriots choose to defend Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the NFL this season with 1,793 yards while catching 10 touchdown passes among his 119 receptions.
New England could mix coverages, but the Patriots may also assign Christian Gonzalez to Smith-Njigba. Gonzalez, who has become one of the top cornerbacks in the league, intercepted a pass on Denver’s final possession to secure New England’s 10-7 victory in the AFC Championship Game.
“He can do everything from every spot on the field,” Gonzalez said of Smith-Njigba. “He’s a smooth route-runner, can run every route, and he’s just an amazing player. I (have) the utmost respect for him, and I’m excited for Sunday.”
–New England wide receiver Stefon Diggs has 80 receptions for 982 yards and five touchdowns in 17 career playoff games, and he is looking to become the 19th NFL player to reach 1,000 postseason receiving yards.
Diggs, who is in his first season with the Patriots, is currently 20th on the NFL’s all-time postseason list for receiving yards. He enters the Sunday game tied for 12th with 80 postseason receptions and needs six more catches to move into the top 10.
Diggs had 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns in the 2025 regular season.
“I’ve been in the league a long time,” Diggs said Monday night. “As far as the corners, I’ve seen some of the best corners in the game, Hall of Fame corners, Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman — all those guys.
“I took a lot of lumps earlier in my career, so understanding what I’ve seen, I come with a little bit of experience, I guess, to kind of show out in the game.”
Diggs played for the Minnesota Vikings, the Buffalo Bills and Houston before he signed with New England last March.
–Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels owns six Super Bowl rings, so he knows a bit about planning for the contest.
McDaniels pointed out the oddity of there being a long layoff leading up to the game.
“We don’t have any games during the season where we have two weeks to prepare,” he said, “so you’ve got to be careful you don’t overdo it.”
New England head coach Mike Vrabel earned three Super Bowl rings as a linebacker, but this is his first trip to the Super Bowl since his playing days.
“Josh has been a good resource, obviously,” Vrabel said. “He’s coached in these with the extended break.”
–Patriots linebacker Robert Spillane didn’t practice Monday at Stanford, but he is optimistic his ankle injury won’t prevent him from playing on Sunday. He is listed as questionable.
“I’m doing what I need to do,” Spillane said. “We have a plan scheduled for me to return to play. I’m just trying to do everything I can to make sure we’re right on it.”
Spillane had 97 tackles and two interceptions in 13 regular-season games. He aggravated the nagging ankle injury during the AFC Championship Game.
–Field Level Media
Sports
How the Milwaukee Bucks Ruined the NBA Trade Deadline by Keeping Giannis
It takes two to tango.
And that’s exactly how the Milwaukee Bucks ruined the NBA trade deadline.
The Bucks had plenty of suitors lining up to trade for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. For weeks, it felt like the NBA world was growing closer and closer to seeing a blockbuster trade happen in-season for the second consecutive year.
But it didn’t happen.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst decided to keep Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee despite plenty of interest from the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Last week, Antetokounmpo informed the Bucks that he’s finally open to being moved after 13 seasons in Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo’s main mission remains to stack NBA Championships while the 31-year-old is still one of the best players in the league. Unfortunately, the Greek Freak will waste away on the Bucks, who are going nowhere this season and have no real plan for the future.
Antetokounmpo on the Timberwolves would’ve helped Anthony Edwards significantly. Pairing Antetokounmpo with Stephen Curry in Golden State would’ve helped legitimize the Warriors. In the East without Jayson Tatum or Tyrese Haliburton, the Cavaliers would’ve instantly become title favorites with a core of Donovan Mitchell, James Harden and Antetokounmpo.
But the Bucks decided to kill everybody’s fun.
According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, the Bucks could decide to shut down Antetokounmpo for the rest of the season since he was not traded.
Well, what’s the sense in that?
The Bucks will likely have the same suitors with similar offers for Antetokounmpo in the offseason. Maybe the Los Angeles Lakers can enter the picture, especially if LeBron James leaves them with a hole at forward.
But outside of that?
The Timberwolves, Heat and Cavaliers will still have the best packages. Perhaps the New York Knicks can get involved? After all, it felt like that is where Antetokounmpo was heading during the offseason.
One thing is certain, it’s beginning to feel like the Bucks are going to hold onto Antetokounmpo for too long.
It’s difficult to let a homegrown talent like him out of the building. But Milwaukee is accomplishing nothing with him as presently constructed. They are currently one of the worst teams in the Eastern Conference, but likely will not be bad enough to secure top odds at the No. 1 or No. 2 overall draft choice.
Holding onto Antetokounmpo feels pointless. Especially without much of a path to improve the roster surrounding him.
Sports
Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgensen dies at 91
Aug 2, 2014; Canton, OH, USA; Sonny Jurgensen waves to the crowd at the TimkenSteel Grand Parade on Cleveland Avenue in advance of the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen has died at age 91, his family announced Friday.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of our husband, father and grandfather, Sonny Jurgensen,” said a statement from the Jurgensen family, distributed by the Washington Commanders.
“We are enormously proud of his amazing life and accomplishments on the field, marked not only by a golden arm, but also a fearless spirit and intellect that earned him a place among the legends in Canton.”
Jurgensen spent the final 11 seasons of his 18-year career playing for the Washington franchise.
A native of Wilmington, N.C., Jurgensen was a fourth-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles out of Duke in 1957. He was the backup to Norm Van Brocklin when Philadelphia won the 1960 NFL Championship before becoming the Eagles’ starter the following season.
That was the only NFL title of his career.
In 1964 he was traded to Washington, where his No. 9 is retired. After his playing career, he became a longtime radio and television broadcaster for Washington.
“Sonny Jurgensen is, and always will be, one of the defining legends of Washington football. He was a brilliant leader, Hall of Fame quarterback, and had one of the best arms the game has ever seen. After his career on the field, Sonny’s voice became a fixture of Washington Sundays for decades, shaping the way generations of fans experienced the game,” Commanders’ managing partner Josh Harris said in a statement Friday.
Jurgensen is in Washington’s Ring of Fame and the Eagles’ Hall of Fame and was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983.
A first-team All-Pro in 1961, he was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and named to the Hall of Fame’s All-1960s team.
Jurgensen led the league in passing yards five times. His 32,224 career passing yards ranks 51st all-time.
He finished 69-71-7 in 218 games (147 starts) with Philadelphia (1957-1963) and Washington (1964-1974), throwing 255 touchdown passes. He added 15 on the ground and ran for 493 yards in his career.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Jim Schwartz resigns as Browns' defensive coordinator
Aug 5, 2024; Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz during a press conference at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Jim Schwartz resigned from his job as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns, the team announced Friday.
Schwartz reportedly was unhappy when the Browns hired Todd Monken instead of him as their head coach.
“Yesterday, Jim Schwartz submitted his letter of resignation as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns,” the team said in a statement. “We’d like to thank Jim for his contributions to our organization over the last three seasons. Our search for a new defensive coordinator will begin immediately.”
While Schwartz remains under contract with the team, he plans to sit out the 2026 season, per The Athletic. Schwartz, 59, previously was the head coach of the Detroit Lions (2009-13). This is the first head coaching opportunity for the 61-year-old Monken.
Schwartz was the defensive coordinator of the Browns the past three seasons. With Myles Garrett, who set the NFL single-season record for sacks (23) in 2025 to anchor the defense, Cleveland’s unit was one of the NFL’s best during his tenure.
The team finished among the leaders in total yards allowed — first in 2023 and fourth in 2025.
During interviews with potential head coaching candidates, the Browns’ top brass, including owner Jimmy Haslam, expressed they wanted Schwartz to remain as defensive coordinator.
Monken, Schwartz and Rams pass coordinator Nate Scheelhaase were the finalists. Monken’s experience is on the offensive side of the ball, serving as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens the past three seasons.
Now, Monken is without both coordinators. Tommy Rees, the OC in 2025, accepted the same position in Atlanta.
Rees will be reunited with the coach Monken replaced, Kevin Stefanski, who is the new head coach of the Falcons after being dismissed by the Browns on Jan. 5.
–Field Level Media
How the Milwaukee Bucks Ruined the NBA Trade Deadline by Keeping Giannis
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